Torch machine



Nov. 6', 1928.

J. J. CROWE ET AL TORCH MACHINE Filed May 25. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l |I` (lllllJrllln llal.. llllrlelllr. x

INVENTOHS ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1928.

J. J. cRowE r-:T Ax.

TORCH MACHINE Filed May 25, `1927 5 snets-sneet 2 A TTOHNEY Nov. 6, 1928.

J. J. CROWE ET AL TORCH MACHINE Filed May 23, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 uw.. m. S. o

INVENTORS Nov. 6, 1928.

J. J. CROWE ET AL TORCH MACHINE Filed May 25, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. J. CROWE ET AL.

Nov. 6, 1928.

TORCH MACHINE Files; May 23, 192'/ 5 sheets-sheet INVENTORS :wf/757W vBY v Arm/mf Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITED STA TES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. CROWE, OF WESTFIELD, AND JOHN H. W.BEGRO`W, OFSECAUCUSNEW JER- SEY, ASSIGNORS TO AIR` REDUCTION COMPAN N. Y., AACORPO-BA-TION OFNEW YORK.

' TORCH M Application led May 23,

, The invention relates tomachinesand ap* paratus for moving and guiding oXya-eetylene, oxyhydric or like torch jetsover or inrelation to the entrant or irregular.contours of metal shapes, specifically for severing the same.` The special embodimentof the inventionis a` machine or apparatusitor cutting railroad rails, but similar mechanism can be lused for cutting I-beams, channels, or other structural shapes.

The object is to provide-an eifective and advantageous mechanism or apparatus for such purposes, ivlierein the jet-delivering ineans is supported and guided from a frameor support in sucli manner as to be movable in the plane of the jets in a path of irregularly changing direction suited to the shape to be operated upon, the means for moving` the jets determining or controlling the path. In the complet-e -embodin'ient of the invention the torch ortorch-nozzle is carried by successive movable parts or carriages ca pable. of different movements in or parallel with a plane, in or out and up or down, the' nozzle also having a turning movement inthe same plane, and the extent and rateoffdisplacement of the jets in different directions,

combined or successive. is determined by moving cams or gearing which control the actual path of thej ets over the irregular or entrant contour. f f j The embodiment of the invention herein described and toy which the applieation is moreV particularly, though not necessarily yexclusively directed, is a machine wherein Vvpower or motion applied manually orotherwise to a single recipient is traiismittedto a plurality of niechanismsfory actuatingthree Y successively carried parts, whereby the desired motions or resultants are producedfat Y the torchnozzle, to cause tto travel in relation to the hase, web and ball ofai'ail, forexample. A` particular object is topio'vide an eiiicient apparatus or machine of this character suitable for cutting a railroad rail in situ. byy operating at. one. sideonlyoftlie rail.

Other features'of vthe invention will. be apparent to those skilled inthe` art from the accompanying drawings `and the following descriptio v In the accompanying drawings forming parthereof: Y Y. Fig. i .is aside` eleva-tionfof the embodii'neut.

ACHINE.

1927. serali No. 193,708'.

of thev machine applied to a rail, which is shown in section; j

'Fig 2 is a plan. View;

Fig.'3 is a section on the line 38 of Fig. 2;

Y, NCORPOR-ATED, OF NEVJ- YORK,

Fig. l is an end elevation, the operating shaft incros's-section; Y

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5*;5 of Fig. 1; and j f Fig. fis a diagrammatic view.

A frame 2 has a part Badapted to bear against the web and base flange of a rail' a, and -a clamp 4 for fixing vit inl place on the rail. The particular design of the means for securing' the frame on, or positioning it in respect to, the work may be varied. j

The frame illustratedhas a. pair of hori- Zontal guide rods extending from the part 3 at right angles to the' rail, these Yrods being united attheir outer ends to a strut-6 braced from an upwardly projecting bracket 7 on the part 3 by an inclined member 8. Aslid'e carriage 9 provided with rollers 10 guided on the rods 5 is `movable and from the rail to be cut.

A drive shaft 11 is jouinaled in the main frame 2 above and parallel with the guides 5, and is provided at the outer endvwith a handle 12. A worm 13,-retained between l abutments 13a on the carriage, `is splined on this shaft, so as to be movable along theV same iii driven relation thereto, the worm `being movable endwise with the carriage..

,in and out toward The saidy wormineshes a worm-'Wheel 141,

a formy of slow-motion gearinggdesigned to transmit motion from? the recipient at greatly reducedspeed,and with substantial uniformity.

Another carriage or arm, 19 is mountedv on or connected with the-carriage, so as to be movable with said carriage andfto be capable also otanother movement, more' specifically and advantageouslyl apivotalniovementj, the effectoi" which at the'. t.orcli-i'io7.zle20 is ai.

kor actuating the carriage The worm gearing j ri age 9.

,being turned slowly i'ipivard, lowering the Vangle of the )ets m relation Vto the sloping top rlf'he said arm is piveted on the center 1G and is actuated so as to swing on said center slowly and over a4 short range. For this purpose a rotary cani 2l is mounted on the carriage 9 and is driven from the shaft 16 by gears 2Q.

The cam Q1 coacts with a roller Q3 on a bracket 2e secured to the arm 19, and in conjunction with a spring 25 produces the desired movement of this arm or carriage.

Another arm 26 is carried by a forwardly proJected center Vor pivot 27 on the arm 19.

`This arm is a carriageor movable element by means of which the jets ot the nozzle 20, which projects iorvvard a short distance beyond the line of the axis of the center 27, to

Vwhich the nozzle is substantially radial, are

turned on a shortI radius in the general plane of the jets and in thesame plane as the movements produced by the cams.

1 The arm 26 is extended rearwardly `for convenient attachment oft a customary 'form oi cutting torch 28, the hody of which is held in a holder 29 on the arm, but it ivill be understood that the machine could be equipped with a special form ot torch or jet-delivering means. The nozzle is to be considered being carried by and rotatable about or with the center 27, the'projecti'on of thenozzle beyond the axis of the center representing the arm or radius of this movement. i

The pivot 27 to Which the arm 2G is secure l is rotated Jfrom the shaft orV center ltlby a train of gears 30, though other mechanism could be employed for this purpose.

The center 27 is socarried as to operate close to the entrant contour of the rail or other shape and it is very desirable that it actually enter within tie contour as showin in Figs. 1 and 6. This center is caused to move in a path of irregularly changing direction which bears a relation to the contour to be operated upon, and the nozzle 20 is also turned advancingly about the center. Fig.V 6 illustrates successive positionso't the center and nozzle. The lirst att-ack the edge of the base flange o'l the rail, and'ivhen the cut is started the center and the nozzle are moved inward by the action of the cam 15 on the car- At the same time the` nozzle is surface of the rail andcausing' them to rise somewhat. In rthis Way the entire base of the rail, including the flanges at both sides thereof, is cut through. The cam 21 also acts upon the carriage 19, and its ction combined with the turning of the nozzle about the center 27 causes the nozzle to rise comparatively rapidly across the thin web ot the rail, cuttingI through this part. By the time the upper part iol the Web is reached the nozzle has been turned forwardly to an advancontrollingl the elevating motion are preferably on dvvells, so that practically the only movement is then the slow turningl and advancing movement ot the jets about the center 27, the automatic reduction in the speed of displacement of the iets insuring that the thickness ot metal in the hall Will be properly cut. Toward the end ot the operation. the cam 15 preferably causes the center 2T and Vthe nozzle to back aivay from the Work somewhat., so that the extremity of' the nozzle is carried outward under the overhang ot the ball. The speciiic motions may be varied, however, depending upon the number ot successively movable carriages or parts which are employed, and which need not in all instances he three, the centers selected, and the specific nature of the actuating mechanisms or means employed, as to which there may be a good deal o'f variation. It is mechanically convenient and advantageous to turn the torch nozzle by constantly operating gearing', but

`cva-ms might be employed throughout, or certain kinds of gearing might be used in place of the cams shown.

The cam or actuating member 2l is removable and interchangeable With cams ot appropriate contours for different sizes ot rails. The cam 15 is also changeable, and the ratio of the gearing 31 could also be changed. One and the same machine may thus be adapted for cutting rails or shapes of different sizes, contours and sections, or, of course, separate machines may be designed tor cutting diiferent shapes.

It will, therefore, be understood that the invention ris not limited to details,fnor to the particular use illustrated. The machine is particularly designed and adapted tor Ycutting entrant shapes, but the principles oit construction and operation may be applied `to contours which are not entrant. By the use of a Welding torch and appropriate modification of the design the invention may be applied to special Welding operations.

While the invention is illustrated in the embodiment of a machine, wherein the several mechanisms are actuated mechanically or automatically by ,opera-ting a single recipient, certain of the Jfeatures 0i the invention are susceptible of embodiment in a hand apparatus wherein different movements might be under separate hand controls.

Terms of orientation used herein are relative. The machine shown is designed for the cutting of rails in situ, but it is Vequally applicable to the cutting of rails not in place in a track, and in that case, vor when theinvention is applied to cutting other shapes, it c would obviously be immaterialk whether the work stood upright with the apparatus in the position shown, orwhetlier the worky and the used without others, and there may be numerous changes in form, proportions, details or specific operation, orl by substitution of equivalents.

' What we claim as new isz 1. An apparatus for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame, a center, means carrying said centerv from said frame so that said' center will travel in a Vpath of irregularly changing direction appropriate to tli'e entrant contour, jet-delivering means carried by said center, meansfo'r continuously Vmoving said center along said path and thereby moving said jet-delivering means, and means for turning said jet-delivering means about said center in the same plane of movement. y

2. A machine for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame. a center, means carrying said center lfrom, said frame so that said rcenter will travel ina path of irregularly l changing direction, jet-delivering means carried by said center, mechanism formoving said center along said path and thereby moving said jet-delivering means,-mechanism for turning saidv jet-delivering means about said center in the same planev of movement, and means for actuating said mechanisms from a coinmon'recipient. i

3. A machine for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame, a center, means comprising successive carriages movable in different directions for carrying said center from said frame so that said center will travel in a path of irregularly changing direction, jet-delivering means carried byY said center, mechanism for moving each of said carriages,

mechanism for turning saidl jet-deliveringmeans about said center, and means for actuating said mechanisms from a common recipient. v

4. A machine for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame, a center, means lcomprising successive carriages movable in diiferent'directins for carrying said center `trom said frame so that said center will travel in a path of irregularly changing direction,

one of said carriages being a sliding carriage and the other being a pivotal carriage, jet-delivering means carried by said center, mechanism for moving eachof said carriages, mechanism. forV turning said jet-delivering means about said center, and means for actuating said mechanisms trom a common recipient.

5. A machine for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame, a carriagefslidable on the frame, a pivotal cariiageconnected with said vslidable carriage, a center carried by said pivotal carriage, jet-delivering means carried'by saidcenter, mechanism for movino` each of said carriages mechanism for swinging Vaid jet-delivering means about said center, and means for actuating said mechanisms from a common recipient.

6. A machine for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame, a carriage slid-- able on the frame, a pivotal carriage connectedwith said slidablc carriage, a centei carried by said pivotal carriage, Jet-delivering means carried by said center, a rotary cam for actuating said slidable carriage, an-

other rotarycam for actuating'isaid pivotal carriage, gearing for kswinging set jet-de.- livering means about'said center, and means for actuating saidcams and gearing from a il' common recipient.

7. A machine for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame, a carriage slidable on the frame, a pivotal carriage connected with said slidable carriage, a center carried by said pivotal carriage, iet-delivering means carried by said center," andinechanism including gearing and a plurality ofrotary cams for moving said carriages and for swinging said jet-delivering means about said '1 center. Y Y

8.k Ainachine'for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame, a carriage slidable on the frame, a pivotal carriage connectedwith said slidable carriage, a center .car-` .ried by said pivotal carriage, Jet-delivering means carried by said center, and mechanism including` gearing and a plurality of rotary cams for moving said carriages and for turning said jet-delivering means about said center.

9. A machine for cuttingrails orentrant shapes, comprising a frame, a. center, inea-ns carrying said center from said frame so that said center will travel in a path of irregularly changingdirection, jet-delivering means carried by saidcenter, and mechanism including a plurality of rotary cams for moving said center along said path and for turning said Jet-delivering means about said center.

l0. An apparatus tor cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame, jet-delivering means, means comprising successive relatively movable parts carrying said jetdelivering means from said frame soA that the kmi jets will move inward over a flange of the shape and away from said flange as well as turningly on a short radius, and means for thus moving said jet-delivering means in a continuous manner.

k11. A machine for. cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a frame, jet-delivering `means, means comprising successive relatively movable parts carrying said jet-delivering means from saidframe so that the jets will move inward'over a flange of the shape and a\vay from said llange as Well as turningly on a short radius, and mechanism including a i plurality of rotary cams for moving said jetdelivering means.,

12. A machine 'for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a tra-me, jet-delivering means, means comprising successive relatively movable parts carrying said etdelivering means from said frame so that the jets vvill move inward over a flange ot the shape and away from said flange as Well as turningly on a short radius, and mechanism comprising a plurality of rotary camsand gearing operated from acommon recipient for moving said j et-delivering means.

13. A machine ot the character .described comprising a. trame, a carriage slidable in and out on the 'lira-me, a cam Vtor actuating said carriage, a carriage pivoted on said sliding carriage, a cam on said slidable carriage for actuating said pivoted carriage, a. torchholder arm pivoted on said pivoted carriage, gearing on said pivoted carriage for actuating said torch-holder arm, and a primary operating shaft and slot-motion gearing operated thereby for actuating said cams and gearing.

111. An apparatus for cutting rails or entrant shapes, comprising a` frame, a carriage movable in and out with reference to the entrant contour, jet-delivering means carried by said carriage and turnable relatively thereto, means for operating said carriage, and means for turning said jet-delivering means, so as to move the jets in continuous manner.

15. A machine for cutting rails or entrant shapes comprising ay trame, successive carriages mounted on said 'frame for movement in two directions respectively, jet-delivering means mounted on one ot said carriages vfor pelling the ets, said propelling means includ ing a plurality of changeable parts controlling different/elements ot the path of motion ot the jets mechanically.

17. A machine ioi' moving and guiding torch jets over irregular contours, comprising a frame,.jet-delivering means, means carrying said jet-delivering means from said frame for guided motion substantially in the plane of the ets in a path of irregularly changing direction appropriate to the contour or sec tion to be operated upon, and means for propelling the jets, said propelling means including one or more changeable rotary cams controlling dil'erent elements of the path of motion of the jets.

JOHN' J. CROVE. Y JOHN H. W'. BEGEROV. 

